Four generations laughing together on the floor during an at-home extended family photo session in Chapel Hill.

This session almost didn’t happen.

It was the weekend after Christmas. The Onda Family’s house in Chapel Hill’s Homestead Village was full, with four generations gathered to celebrate a three-year-old’s birthday. Everyone was a little tired. Hosting family is beautiful, but it is also a lot. Add in health ups and downs and the normal chaos of two toddlers, and canceling would have been understandable.

I am really glad they didn’t.

As a Chapel Hill family photographer, I often get invited into meaningful seasons of life. This one felt especially important. Family members had traveled from several states away, and one had come from Mexico shortly after hip surgery, because being present mattered.

And that 3-year-old’s mom? She wanted to make sure her daughter grows up with evidence of that.

A Chapel Hill Family Photographer Documenting Four Generations at Home

Close-up of grandmother’s hands resting over a child’s lap during a multi-generational family photo session in Chapel Hill.

Multi-generational family baking together during a Chapel Hill extended family photo session.

Toddler peeking through a stand mixer during an at-home family photo session in Chapel Hill.

At-home family photography session in Chapel Hill capturing a mother and child baking together.

This photo session was not about the house. It was not about outfits. It was not about everyone smiling perfectly at the camera.

It was about connection.

The family had recently moved to Chapel Hill for work, and their home in Homestead Village became the gathering place for this rare moment when everyone could be together. Instead of focusing on the architecture or décor, we focused on what was already strong, the way they love each other.

When I delivered the gallery, her email came through quickly:

“These are really just incredible. I'm so overjoyed, I don't have any words. Every photo is priceless. I can't believe you were able to get these moments for us.”

Then she followed up again:

“Reflecting back, this photo shoot almost didn't happen. It was a rough end of 2025. These photos make me forget all of that. Thank you.”

That perspective, that photos can hold onto the good when everything else feels blurry, is why I believe so deeply in this work.

Beginning with a Meaningful Activity

Four generations baking together during an at-home extended family photo session in Chapel Hill.

We started in the kitchen making banana chocolate chip muffins using a recipe from the husband’s childhood.

Activity-based sessions put people at ease. When hands are busy stirring batter or handing chocolate chips to toddlers, no one is thinking about posing. They are focused on being together.

Two three-year-olds moved between grandparents and their great-grandmother, proudly feeding everyone snacks. Gigi, the birthday girl, was shy at first. She kept her distance and was unsure about me being there. But as the muffins baked and the room warmed, so did she.

By the end of the session, she was dancing in the mirror and play wrestling with her grandparents. The other little girl was more than happy to be the center of attention from the start.

The great-grandmother, who raised her son as a single mom and had traveled from Mexico to be there, watched her great-granddaughters with pure joy. It was joyful and powerful all at once.

Using Light and Layering in Their Chapel Hill Home

Multi-generational family playing together during a Chapel Hill extended family photo session.

Four generations reflected in a mirror during a Chapel Hill family photographer session at home.

Parents embracing their toddler during an at-home family photo session in Chapel Hill.

Family gathered by a window watching outside during an at-home photo session in Chapel Hill.

As golden hour approached, some areas of the home started to get dark so I set off in search of the best natural light. I found it in a loft at the top of the stairs, which had west-facing windows that were glowing in soft December sun.

I encouraged everyone to gather there and to truly gather.

When I photograph extended families, I ask them to sit closer than feels natural. Lean into each other. Rest on laps. Put someone on shoulders. It might feel slightly awkward in the moment, but visually it creates images that feel full and connected.

Layering foreground, middle, and background adds depth. Light and shadow add dimension. Together they make the image feel alive rather than flat.

One of my favorite images from the day shows all four generations sitting in front of a mirror. You see their backs and then their reflections smiling back at themselves. It is subtle, but it says everything.

Why Multi-Generational Photos Matter

When families ask whether grandparents should be included in their session, my answer is always yes.

These are the photos that grow in value over time.

I talk more about this in Why You Should Include Grandparents in Your Newborn Photo Session, but the heart of it is simple. Children deserve to see the love that surrounds them.

Years from now, this little girl will see:

A great-grandmother who traveled across countries to be there.
Grandparents who show up despite living states away.
Parents partnering together in the middle of hosting chaos.

She will see that she was chosen.

At-Home Sessions with a Chapel Hill Family Photographer

This session is a good example of what at-home family photos can look like in Chapel Hill. They do not have to revolve around the space itself. Sometimes the story is entirely about the people inside it.

If you would like to see more sessions like this across the Triangle, you can explore my family photography portfolio.

And if you are planning a gathering, whether it is a birthday, holiday, or simply a rare moment when everyone is together, I would love to help you document it.

You can reach out through my contact page to start the conversation.

Because years from now, when the chaos fades, the love is what remains.